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The Guidon plucked her knife from the sand and closed in. “I think it’s you who needs help, Acari Drew. ”
I needed to keep moving. Blood loss would weaken me. I backed up, but slammed straight into the wall of rocks. I darted a look up and from side to side. It was boulders to either side of me and the steep hillside above.
“Cornered,” the Guidon taunted. “Like a little rat. ”
Masha was on the move. I heard the click of scattering rocks as she began to climb. I couldn’t let her get above my head. I had to separate my two opponents.
“Crap. ” I knew what I had to do, and I hated it. Masha had disappeared onto the rocks, but I knew better than to worry about her when I had a deadly Guidon right in front of me. “Crap,” I repeated, taking off toward the water.
I heard the girl follow, and I spun, jogging backward, and threw my star. Hit.
“Bitch,” she shrieked. Stumbled. Fell. But she rolled back to a squat at once, glaring at me. She didn’t pull her eyes from me as she plucked my star from where it’d embedded in her foot. She did a little limp-hop and began running after me again, almost as fast as before.
I turned and hauled ass for the water, not sure what my plan was. I took up my last star and spun around again, facing her. I threw, but she bobbed out of the way at the last second and laughed as it went wide.
Slowing to a jog, she held her throwing blade between her fingers, showing it off. “Need a weapon?”
“Nah, I’m good. ” I slid the last two homemade stakes from my sleeves.
“Clever. ” She prowled toward me, her blade poised for action.
I lunged, taking her by surprise, slamming my stakes at her from either side. Water, sand, and blood made my grip slick, and one grazed her arm in a nearly useless hit and flew from my hand, but the other managed to penetrate the thick muscle at her shoulder.
She yowled and pulled the wood free, hurling it into the water.
I gave her a gratified smile. “Clever. That’s me. ”
Furious, she ran at me with her knife, slashing wildly, and her blade sliced my arm.
I sidestepped toward the water, managing to avoid another of her wild thrashes. “Easy, cowgirl. ”
“Oh, it is easy. ” She bobbed toward me, stabbing at the air like a fencer, and I hopped back. But then she leapt, slicing too quickly for me, slashing my belly. The wound was shallow, but the stinging seawater brought tears to my eyes. “Time’s up, Drew. ”
I flew into her, grabbing her head. “Not quite. ” Her hair was done in a long braid, and I snatched it, wound it around my hand, and yanked her head down.
She grunted and sprang away, still holding on to that blade, and stabbed at my belly. I flinched aside and felt the hot sizzle of steel along the side of my waist.
We were in the breakers now, and a big wave slapped us, sending us both stumbling. As she twisted back into position, she threw her knife. I saw the move coming and swatted it away before it could pierce me, but still it slashed the side of my hand, a hot sting to join all the others.
I looked down to see if I could find and retrieve her weapon, but it was gone. Blood had turned the seawater pink at my feet.
Neither of us had any weapons now. I dove for her, and we fell into each other, and the calf-high waves swirled and sucked at our feet as we grappled. I had to be faster, meaner. I grasped at the air for whatever I could grab, pulling a fistful of hair, scratching at her cheek, flailing my legs to get in whatever kicks I could.
She did the same, pulling my ear, biting my shoulder. I slammed my hand against the side of her head, cupped over her ear. She stumbled, momentarily dazed, and I hit again, curling my body hard, tangling my fingers in her braid, bringing her head down and my knee up into her throat. I heard a bone crunch. Heard her exhale a strange, squeaking breath.
She dropped, facedown in the surf. Her body bobbed up and down, looking like a peaceful bit of seaweed floating in the breakers. Dead.
I swiped a hot tear from my face, shaking from adrenaline. I hated this.
But I wasn’t done. Would I ever be done?
Because now there was Masha.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
I was tired. All I wanted was to find Carden. He’d make this all better. It’d been so long since I’d tasted him. I needed him, only now I didn’t know where my physical need for the blood ended and the simple needs of my heart began.
I could run. But Masha would be there waiting for me at the top. I couldn’t stay on this beach forever. No, I needed to face her. To fight.
